Crisis Payments
You can apply for a Crisis Payment if you are struggling to buy food, pay for essential utility bills or other essential living costs including housing costs. This is a one-off payment intended to help you get through your crisis.
All Crisis Payments are funded by the Crisis and Resilience Fund, provided by UK Government. The fund is discretionary and is there to help people facing an immediate financial crisis.
All Crisis Payment applications will be assessed by the local welfare assistance team. They can also help if you have debts, need help to budget your income or support in finding a job. You may be asked to attend a session to help in these areas if appropriate.
To apply for a Crisis Payment you must:
- be facing an immediate financial crisis
- be a resident in the Ealing borough
- not have access to savings that could resolve the crisis
- be able to provide evidence to support your application
- receive of one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit or legacy benefits including applicants who are employed or self-employed
- Pension credit
- Job seekers allowance contribution based or employment support allowance contribution based
- council tax reduction or housing benefit
You can apply if you are likely to start getting one of these benefits within the next 6 weeks due to moving out of care for example, from residential care or prison.
If you are entitled to receive one of these benefits but do not claim, you will not be eligible for a crisis payment.
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria but you have experienced a disaster such as a fire or flood, we will still consider your application.
What do we mean by a financial crisis?
A financial crisis is when a person or family does not have enough money to cover basic everyday needs, and the situation needs urgent help.
This might mean someone cannot afford things like:
- food
- gas, electricity or water
- essential household items
- rent or other housing costs
Without support, the situation could quickly get worse and cause serious hardship or harm.
Support during a financial crisis is short-term and focused on immediate needs. It is there to help people get through a difficult moment, stop the situation from becoming more serious, and help them get back on track.
A council officer will assess each application individually and consider your personal circumstances. Payments will not be made to replace, improve or upgrade existing furniture. In some cases, we may give help in a different way instead of a crisis payment. For example, we may provide essential items such as second hand furniture.
If your application is not successful, we will still provide you with advice and may signpost you to other organisations who may be able to help.
